Button blank cutting machine



June 7, 1932. A. F. KEFFLO BUTTON BLANK CUTTING MACHINE Filed May 29, 1930 2 Sheets-Shee'c June 7, 1932. A. FfKEFFLO BUTTON BLANKv CUTTING MACHINE Filed May 29, 1,930 2 Sheets-Shee 2 Patented June 7, 1932 UNITED STATES ALBERT F. KEFFLO, F MUSCATINE, IOWA, ASSICrNOR. TO AUTOMATIC PEARL BUTTON' PATENT OFFICE BUTTON BLANK CUTTING MACHINE Application filed. May 29, 1930. Serial N0. 457,024.

This invention is an improvement in machines for cutting pearl button blanks from shells and the like.

A primary object is to provide a machine of this kind which can be readily operated by unskilled labor and for'this purpose it is necessary to provide means whereby rapid replacements of chilled saws and of worn out plugs may be made by the operator; and the invention provides a novel construction and combination of parts for the attainment of these ends. v

The invention includes novel means for mounting the head stock so that it is capable of being automatically raised by pressure of the material being forced up against the cutting saw, whereby excessive or dangerous pressure on the work being operated upon will be prevented. Also novel means for removably mounting interchangeable saw holding chucks in the head stock. Also a novel tail stock or plug support tiltably mounted on the frame below the head stock, and means for tilting the tail stock into or out of operative position. Also novel means for adj usting and replacing the plugs or abutments.

Other novel features of the invention will be hereinafter explained.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one Se practical embodiment of the invention and it will be explained 4with reference thereto7 to enable others to understand and use the same;

but the invention is not restrictd to the specific construction of parts illustrated in the drawings; and the claims summarize the essentials of the invention and the novel features of construction and novel combinations of parts for which protection is desired.

In the drawings;

Fig. l is a side elevation of a machine embodying my invent-ion, the supporting column or frame being shown partly in section.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the machine.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the slidable head stock, and

Fig. t is a top view of the upper part of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the vdriving spindle, inner chuck spindle, chuck and cutting saW.

Fig. 6 shows one type of solid rchuck or spun, with a standard split saw keyed in place therein.

Fig. 7 shows a four-jaw chuck adapted to hold a straight tubular saw.

Fig. 8 is a bottom end view of the chuck shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 i-s a view of one of the removable saw holding units detached.

The machine shown has a Vertical supporting frame A, preferably a three sided cast iron box standard. To the front side of this frame are attached the head stock B and the tail stock C. The head stock B carries a spindle 4l on which is a driving pulley 4a and in which the removable saw holding unit 3 hereinafter described is removably secured.

The head stock B has a base B2 slidably litted in vertical guides D on the standard A.

and can be accurately positioned in the guides by adjusting the gib 2() (see Fig. 4;). The gravitational descent of the head stock is limited by an adjustable stop bolt G tapped through Va lug on the frame A. The weight of the head stock may be increased and regL` ulated by means of adjustable weights E strung on a rod E hung on a stud B attached to the head stock and projecting through a slot A in thev front wall of the frame A.v

As shown in Fig. 5 in the main spindle 4 is removably inserted a saw-holding unit comprising a tubular spindle 3 a saw holding chuck 25 and a'chuck-plug 20 (see Figs. 5 to 9). The spindle 3 is provided with atapered lowered end 3a to engage the internally tapered lowered end of the main spindle 4, and spindle -3 is removably secured in the spindle 4- by means of a'pin or screwB'which Aengages a key slot 5 in the upperend of spin-v dle 4. Into this spindle Ais inserted a four tapered end to gradually grip the saw 7. As the spindle 4 revolves clockwise or from right to left the pin 3?) engaging the inner end of the slot 5 causes the spindle 3 and the saw unit therein to rotate with the main spindle 4.

The Shell or material is pressed upward against the saw during rotation thereof by a plug L in the tail stock C hereinafter re- -ferred-to, landlthepressurethat can be `applied to the material during-the cutting operation is limited by the weight of the head stock B plus the weights A set of such saw holding units, each containing a properly resharpened and reset cutting saw, is preferablyprovided for each machine and within easy reach of the operator so that when a saw becomes dull the unit vcontaining such dull saw can be quickly removed and replacedwith a. unit containing a-sharp and properly set saw.'

The tail stock C is tiltably mounted onthe `frame A below the head stock (see Figs. 1 and 2) and carries Va plugL and means for adjusting the plug. The tail stock-has a flanged base portion C provided with an inwardly projecting lug'CQ extending through a-slot A2 inthe frame A rand provided with ancircular'opening which is enga ed by an eccentric H, fast on a shaft S. aid shaft extends-transversely of the frame A and is provided with-a hand lever M whereby the shaftcan be rocked to cause the eccentric tohold the tail stock rigidly inthe positionshownfull line: in Figs. 1 and 2, with the :plug Lin-axial alinement withthe saw 7 in the head stock, or when lever M is moved to lthcposition shown-in dotted lines-in Fig. 1, the'tail stock ywill be'tilted outwardly as indica-ted inV dotted lines in Fig. v1. lVhen the lever M is in the position shown in full lines inFig. 1 the eccentric is very nearly on center andlocks the-tail stock rigidlytothe frame rod-and inline with the spindle L1.

Within the tail stock is mounted a nonrotatable verticallymovablel plunger-I, which is normally pressed downward yin the tail stock by a-spring P. Tapped into thelower lend ofthe plungerI-is a screw O, on the up- ,per end of which the-wooden plug L is seated.

The plug -L is ordinarily composed of yielding-material, such as wood, and is sub- -jected to-considerable pressure during the cutting operation when-thematerial or shell being operated upon is lforced by this plug upward against thecutting saw. The wear areducestheplugin length, andto compensate for this -the threaded rod O can be turned'by hand -wheel Y to force the plug upwardly 'out of the plunger I-the amount desired.

In order to press the-work against the cut- .,ter'Y, theplungerI withthe plug and screw yrodi() can bemovedupwardfin the tail stock by any suitable means. As shown the .f lower end of the plunger I is supported on the free bifurcated end of a lever K which is plvoted to the frame at Q and carries a roller R engaging a cam J on a shaft J to which is attached the hand lever N.

When handlever N is drawn toward the operator (who sits in front of the machine) cam J contacts with roller R and moves lever K upward. This raises plunger I and wooden plug L upward and the shell or-material to Ibe cut `(which is inserted-between the plug and saw) is forced against the saw 7. Vhen the hand'lever "N is released the spring P Yforces plunger I and lever K down, until tilted outwardly as indicated-in dotted lines in F ig. 1. This isfreadily accomplished by simply pulling hand lever M towards -the 'liront of the machine, as shown in dotted lines inFig. i1, which causes eccentric A to unlock the tail stock and tilt it forwardly at an angle which permits the operator to readily remove the worn out plug, then back out rod-O and place anew plug inl plunger I. Then by moving lever M backwards the tail stock is returned to operative position and locked thereinvby the eccentric ready to resume cutting. All-this can be done lvery quickly.

In my invention the entire body of the tail stock can be easily-tilted outwardlytowards the operator, enabling him to easily renew the plug; and the tail stock is not rigidly bolted to the frame-of the machine as are others.

Mounted onthe upper end vof the head stock Bis a bracket 17 ywhich is hingedly connected by a pin 18 to a laterally swingable-rame 16 having upper and lower arms 16a and 16?) (see Figs. 3 and 4) which are provided with arcuate slots 16s for the accommodation of apresser rod 12; which rod extends axially through the saw holding unit and the saw, thelower end of the presser rod depending slightly below the saw when no work is present as indicated in Fig. 3.

The projection of the presserrod is regulatable by nuts 12a on the threaded upper end of the rod resting upon the varm 16a; and the redis yieldingly depressed by an eXpansion spring 15 strung on'the upper end of the rod between the nuts 12a and the arm 16?). The arm 1Gb may have a handle 16d by which the latch frame 16 can be moved.

When the shell or material to be cutis placed onplug L and the latter is forced up toward the cutting saw, the material comes first in Contact with presser-rod 12, thereby compressing spring 15, and the rod prevents the blank when cut free from the outside material from revolving, and also ejects the blank from the saw. y

When a saw becomes dull and it is desirable to replace the unit containing such dull saw with a unit containing a sharp saw; the operator pulls latch frame 16 to one-side, the slots in arms 16a-16?; permitting this, and removes presser-rod 12. The unit 3 (Fig. 3) is then turned slightly to the left until pin 3b can be disengaged from slot 5, then the unit is lifted out laid aside, and another unit with a sharp cutting saw is inserted in spindle 4, and turned slghtly backward until pin 3b is locked in slot 5. Presser-rod 12 is then returned to place and latch lever 16 swung back into place, and the machine is then again ready for operation. The unit containing the dull saw can be taken to the tool room and resharpened, All units are interchangeable. A split chuck, Fig. 7, or solid chuck, Fig. 6, can be used in the spindle 3.

It will be seen that the entire pressure of the cutting of the material is borne by the plunger I and transmitted to the lever K. The barrel of the tail stock only acts as guide for plunger I and is not subjected to any stress whatever during the cutting operations.

The machine described is practical and operative, and makes possible the cutting of button blanks rapidly by unskilled labor, thus reducing the cost of cutting the blanks, which is the largest item of expense, in the production of pearl buttons from shells.

I c-laim 1. In a machine of the character specified; a support, a tail stock adapted to hold the work and pivotally attached to an eccentric rotatably mounted on said support, whereby the said tail stock will be pivoted into and rigidly held in operative position when the eccentric is rotated into one position, and the tail stock will be tilted to permit ready removal and replacement of the Work when the eccentric is rotated into another position, and manually operable means for shifting said eccentric.

2. In a machine of the character specified; a support, a tail stock adapted to hold the work and having a shank pro-vided with a circular opening, an eccentric rotatably mounted on said support and engaging said opening and pivotally connecting the stock to the support whereby the said tail stock will be pivoted into and rigidly held in operative position when the eccentric is rotated into one position, and the tail stock will be tilted to permit ready removal and replacement of the work when the eccentric is rotated into another position, and manually operable means for shifting said eccentric.

3. In a machine of the character specified;

a support, a tail stock having a shank pro-y vided With a circular opening, a plug holding plunger mounted in said tail stock, a plug in said plunger, means for adjusting the plug in said plunger, a rock shaft having an eccentric Vengaging said opening whereby the said tail stock is pivotally attached to said support and may be rigidly held in operative position or tilted to permit ready removal and replacement of the plug, and manually operable means for rocking said shaft.

4. In a machine for cutting button blanks and the like; a frame, a tiltable tail stock thereon, a slidable plunger in said stock, an adjustable removable plug carried by said plunger, and manually operable means for moving the plunger in the tail stock and towards the saw; a head stock slidably mounted above the tail stock, and a rotatable saw carried by said head stock, the weight of the head stock limiting the pressure which can be applied to the work during the cutting operation by the movement of the plunger.

5. In a machine of the character specified; a frame, a vertically disposed gravitational head stock freely slidable thereon, means for limiting the descent of the head stock, a rotatable spindle mounted in the head stock, means for rotating the spindle, a removable interchangeable saw holding unit mounted in the said spindle, a tail stock tiltably connected to the frame below the head stock, means for locking the tail stock rigidly in axial alignment with the head stock, a plug carrying plunger slidably mounted in the tail stock, means for adjusting the plug in the plunger, and means for raising the plunger in the tail stock to cause the plug to press the work aga-inst the saw.

6. In mechanism as set forth in claim 5, the means for raising the plug holding plunger comprising a lever pivoted on the frame and supporting the plunger, a rock shaft carrying a cam engaging said lever, and manually operable means for rocking said shaft.

7. In a machine of the character specified; a head stock, a rotatable saw holding spindle .mounted therein, a presser-rod extending through and projecting beyond the spindle, a swingable latch lever mounted at one end of the spindle and having slotted arms adapted to engage the projecting end of the presser-rod at spaced points, a limit stop on the presser-rod engaging one of the arms and a depressing spring on the presser-rod interposed between said stop and the other arm.

ALBERT F. KEFFLO. 

